Ironer



Feb 18, 1941. E FOSTER 2,231,895

IRONER I Original Filed Dec. 14, 1934 6 Sheets-Sheet 1 In YenZor Ea'wn '.Fas5er,

Slim/mu;

IRONER Original Filed Dec. 14, 1934 6 Sheets-Sheet 2 Feb. 18, 1941. E, E FOSTER 2,231,895

' IRONER Original Filed Dec. 14, 1934 e Sheets-Sheet s Feb. 18, 1941. E Fog- E 2,231,895

IRONER Original Filed Dec. 14, 1934 6 Sheets-Sheet 4 Feb. 18, 1941.

' E. E. FOSTER IRONER Original Filed Dec.

14, 1934 6 Sheets-Sheet 3mm i w fl I. Fosfer,

Feb. 18, 1941. E. E. FOSTER IRONER Original Filed Dec. 14, 1934 6 Sheets-Sheet 6 gwuc/wto'rl Edwin E. F0556);

the iron contacts Patented Feb. 18, 1941 I v mom EdwlnEFostcnAustimTexsassignortoMaiik ITroners, Inc., Austin, Tex, a mention of exas Application December 14. 1934, Serial No. 151.523 Renewed March 1'1. 19:9

{to Claims- (bi 38-30) The present invention relates to ironers which are operated mechanically or electrically and mechanically and electrically with the exception of the actual guiding of the iron onthe material to be ironed. The subject matter of the present improvement of appliinvention constitutes an cants prior ironing devices as disclosed in his prior U. S. applications, Serial Nos. 643,092, 683,- 218, and 747,241, filed November 17, 1932, August 1, 1933, and October 6, 1934, respectively.

It is an object of the present invention to counterbalance the arm on which an iron is mounted by a simple mechanical means which also acts to provide an ironing pressure on the iron when further object is to provide mechanical and electrical means, and electrical means solely to accomplish the operation Just referred to.

Further objects will be apparent from the following description and the accompanying drawings in which the same reference characters indicate corresponding parts and in which:

Figure 1 is a section through the entire ironer with the exception of the lower portion of the legs taken on line l-l of Fig. 2,

Fig. 2 is a side view of the entire machine,

Fig. 3 is a top view of the entire machine.

Fig. 4 is a cross-section through the supporting member for the iron taken on line H 'of Fig. 5,

Fig. 5 is a longitudinal sectional view of the support and mechanical operating mechanism for the arm' and iron,

Fig. 6 is a part sectional view of the support and operating mechanism taken on line 8-. of Fig. 5.

Fig. 7 is a longitudinal sectional view of the support and operating mechanism showing a modifled'form in which electrical and mechanical means are shown,

Fig. 8 is a sectional view of the support and mechanism taken on line H of Figfl;

Fig. 9 is a cross-sectional view of the support taken on line 9-! of Fig. '1,

Fig. 10 is a longitudinal sectional view of the support and electrical operating means of a fur ther modification.

Fig. 11 is a side view of the arm and iron, and

Fig. 12 is a side view partly in section of the iron and a portion ofthe arm on an enlarged scale.

The iron i is mounted on an arm 2 which latter is rotatably and movably supported in a support 3. The iron I is rotatably mounted on its 5 arm and is capable of turning through 360'. Also the material to be ironed. A

' thereto a latch member Is. This member end of the member at the arm 2 is in two jointed and movable sections 4 and 5, interconnected at the joints.

-The support 3 includes a box-like casing 1 which is provided with a plate member 8 secured thereto. This casing by means of two lugs l0 welded or otherwise provided on a frame bar II. This forms a hinge connection by means of pin II which provides the possibility of folding the casing "I, support 3, arm 2 and iron board it by rotating these parts counterclockwiseiFls. 1).

To securely hold the parts inposition for use as shown in Fig. 1, the casing 'I is provided with a link it pivotaliy mounted at it to the casing I 15 and the other end having pivotally mounted is has grips in the locked position a hook end It which in the frame bar It.

a pin or plate ll secured The operation of this latch member is obvious 20 and as shown in Fig. 1 the latch is unhooked by merely raising the end 2| of the member I! which releases the hook end it from the pin l1 due to the link II.

The frame 9 is suitably constructed of tubular bars such as H and It and tubular legs 22. The bars 23 are part of the frame and are for the purpose of maintaining the board It rigid. This board I! is secured to a suitable base frame 24.

Also as seen mm. 1 to 3, a cone-shaped element 80 26 is provided which forms a part of the frame and-to which a certain number of the bars and legs are secured as, shown. It is obvious that other types of frames and supporting elements ,maybeused and solidbars and rods may be subst stituted for the tubular members.

' The construction shown in MA to 6 operates entirely by mechanical elements to counterbalancetheiron I andarm! andtoanplyanironing ressure on moved down adjacent the material to be ironed. Thearmlisseciu'edtoasupportingmemberfl which slides and rotates in the upper extension 21 ofthecasins'lbymeansofballbearingsfl travel vertically upon vertical movement of member. Aconnectingframetlissecuredtothe therewith but permits the rotation of the member 28. A pair of rollers II are rotatably mounted on the lower end of the frame it by means of shafts 82 which roll on the side a of the casing I. A pair of levers is secured to a frame 9 5 i around and under the ironing m theironlwhentheironhasbeen 40 therearetwosetsseparatedbyaballis and moves vertically 6H 34, one on each shaft ",are

. connecting means 59.

pivotally mounted at one end on the shafts 32 and the other ends carry a sleeve 35 movable on a. shaft 36 pinned on levers 34 as shown in Fig. 6. Two short levers 31 and 38 are rigidly mounted on sleeve 35, lever 31 being connected by lever or connecting'link 39 to an adjustable bracket 40, while the other lever 38 has one end of a spring 4I connected thereto. The other end of the spring is connected to one of "the levers 34' by means of a short rod 42.

The adjustable bracket 40 is vertically slidable on the side 33 of the casing I by means of the plate 43 riveted or otherwise secured to the side block 45 secured to the side 33 and bottom 48 of the casing I. A hand knob 41 is for the'purpose of turning the screw 44 to thereby adjust the position of the point 68' vertically to take care of a change in the position of the iron at the exact vertical position where ironing pressure is to be applied.

The ball bearing keeper 29 is provided with track groove 48 at the lower end thereof in which a roller 49 travels which is mounted on a rod 50. This rod 50 is slidably guided in a bearing block 5I and is secured to a sleeve 52. The sleeve bears in an elongated slot 53 in each lever 54. Each lever 54 is pivoted to an abutment 55 at one end and the other end isslidably connected to the frame 30 by means of slots 56 in said levers and pins 51.

The levers 34 and spring M are operated from the iron through the arm 2 by means of rod 58 connected to the levers 34 by means of the v A lever system is provided'in the arm 2 as shown in Fig. 11 wherein lever is pivoted at El in the section 5, the rod 58 being connected at one end thereof. A rod 82 is provided in the joint 8 and is connected to the other end of lever 68. A lever 63 is provided in the section t and is pivoted at 64. lever 85 connects the lever 83 with the handle 88 of the iron.

As shown in Fig. 5 another set of ball bearings 87 is provided at the lower end of the member 26 to permit the latter to rotate. The rollers 3i prevent rotation of the frame 30.

The purpose of the levers 3'3 and 38, which may be termed a compensating device, is to maintain the counterbalancing forceas nearlypoint 88. The iron I now contacts the board I3: and a slight push by-the operator on the handle 88 pulls the levers 34 upwardly around 32 by means of members 58, 60, 82, 63 and 85. This causes the levers 34 and the spring M to pivot upward about 60 thus causing a downward pull on the arm instead of a counterbalancing force.

In the construction according to Figs. '7 to 9, the members 28 and 21 are provided with grooves 89 for the balls 28 and the ball bearing keeper 29 is provided with two gears I0 which mesh' with two gear racks II for each gear. Thereby upon vertical movement of the member 28, the keeper will be in proper position and "will main- A short tain the balls in their correct spaced relation.' As the operation of this construction is for the most part electrical, the arm moves around the member 26, no linkage system passing through the arm, but merely an electrical cable I2.

In the casing I, a U-shaped frame I3 is secured to the lower end of the member 28. A spring I4 Tia-secured at one end 15 to the frame I3 and the'ot her end to a lever I8 at II. This lever I6 is; mounted on a sleeve I8 which rotates on a. -'shaft I9. sleeve I8 and is connected to a long link 8| at 82, the link 8| being connected at the other 33. The lower end of the bracket is connected, to an adjusting screw 44 having a screw-threaded A second lever 80 is secured to the end 83 to the casing I. This spring I4 serves t'o'coimterbalance the weight of the iron I and arm 2. An electr c-magnet 84 is provided in the bottom of the casing, and a second electro-magnet. 85 in. the frame I3 which are of any suitable construction. The magnet 84 is the pressure magnet and is much larger'than the magnet 85. 88 is the armature for the magnet 84 and has a plunger 81 connected thereto, Two springs 88 and 89, separated by the member 93 secured to the casing I, are provided around the plunger 81' and the upper end of the latter projects into and through the frame 73 and cooperates with stops andfriction plate 9| secured to the frame I3.

The armature 94 for the magnet 85 has a plunger 95 connected thereto which passes through a slot 98 in the plunger 81 and has a wedge cam, 91 thereon, the latter being pivoted at 98 in the frame I3. Also springs 93 and I00 are provided around the plunger 95 separated by plate I 0! secured in the frame I3. The ring I02 is loose on the plunger 95 and bears against the cam 91. A further washer I20 is securely mounted on the plunger 95 and therefore moves with the plunger 95 when the latter moves to the left, Fig. 7, to compress the spring 99. Also when the plunger 95 moves to the right, Fig. 7, the washer I20 acts as a stop against the plate IOI for the plunger. On the end of the plunger an electrical contact arm I03 is secured having a contact I04 cooperating with a contact I05 secured on the frame I3, these contacts being in the circuit of magnet 84.

Referring to Fig. 12, the iron I has an adjusting handle I88 which is secured to a screwthreaded rod I0'I which, when they are rotated, adjusts the collar WEI-vertically which in turn adjusts the lever I09 and contact member H0. The arm III has a rheostat H2 secured thereto which latter is contacted by member H0. Circuit closing contacts I I3 are provided, one on the rheostat and one on the arm.

In operation, the operator adjusts the handle I08 which adjusts the rheostat to control the strength of the magnet 84. When the-operator pushes the iron down the contacts I I3 are closed when the iron contacts the material to be ironed, the iron and arm being counterbalanced by the spring'llso that little pressure is necessary to depress the iron. This energizes the magnet 85 which attracts the armature 94 to pull the cam 91' against-the plunger 81. This forces the plunger against the plate 9|, and the spring 99 against the cam 91 tightly wedges the plunger so that it is securely locked with the frame I3. Then the contacts I08 and I05 close to energize the magnet 88 which then exerts a pull on the arm to efiect an ironing pressure on the iron. When'the hand is released from the handle of the iron spring I I4 against arm III breaks contacts H3 ole-energizing magnet 85 so that by garment is -porting member is slidably and rotatably mountmeans of spring III the plunger it moves to the right breaking contacts I and III to de-energize the magnet 84 thus permitting the arm and iron to be raised above the board by spring 14. The magnet 85 and associated parts makes the ironing device self-compensating for different thicknesses of material. For instance,

ironed first and then a thick garment, each will have the same ironing pressure applied on the iron.

Springs 88 and 89, Fig. the armature 86 in proper magnet 84 is not energized.

As a direct current is more in magnets, a transformer and a rectifier may be used. These may be concealed in a box H5, Figs. 2 and 3, underthe board I3. I

Fig. 10 shows a construction in which the keeper 29 for the ball bearings 28 is shifted by a rod controlled by lever 54 secured to member 55 similar to Figs. 4 to 6. The member 26, however, has a collar H6 which adjusts the lever 54 upon movement thereof.

Two solenoids, Ill and H8, are provided in the casing I cooperating with a core ll! secured on the end of member 26. This operates in such a way that the solenoid I I1 is energized to counterbalance the arm and iron,-but when the iron contacts the material to 'be ironed solenoid II! is de-energized and solenoid H8 is energized which supplies the ironing pressure. The control handle "I6 is also used to adjust the pressure of the iron by changing the amount of current to solenoid 8 but this does not change the lift of the solenoid H1. The device could also be operated so that solenoid II! is energized at all times by solenoid Ill being so much larger that it overcomes the pull of the solenoid II! on the core 9.

A bar l 2l, Figs. 1,-3 and '1, having a fork 122 at one end may be secured to the support 3 for the purpose of preventing the arm 2 from rotat- 7, maintain or restore position when the ing more than 360 to prevent damage to the cord 12 and also to hold the section I by means of the fork 122 when the ironer is in a folded position.

The ironer while preferably operated electrically may, however, also be operated by steam, compressed air or any other power medium. This could be simply arranged for the use of steam or compressed air, for instance, by substituting a cylinderfor the solenoids H1 and N8 of Fig. 10 and adding a suitable valve or valves with control means preferably at the iron which would be obvious to any person skilled in the art.

The drawings show a construction in which the ironing board is provided withlegs, but any other construction can be adopted as, for instance, placing hinges on the board which are in turn secured to a wall or a small cupboard.

I claim as my invention:

1. An ironing device comprising an iron and an arm on which the iron is mounted, a supporting member for the arm, means for mounting the supporting member so that the arm may rotate horizontally and be movable vertically, a connecting member on the supporting member. and means cooperating with the connecting member to counterbalance the weight of the iron and arm and adapted when actuated to produce an ironing pressure on the iron when the iron is adjacent the material to be ironed.

2. An ironing device according to claim 1, in which a casing is provided in which the supsuitable for.

ed bymeans of ball bearings.

3.'An ironing device comprising an iron and an arm on which the iron is mounted, a 088-:

mg, a supporting member for the arm and pro-' jecting into the casing, ball hearings in the easing for slidably and rotatably supporting said member, a connecting member on the supporting member, means cooperating with the con-' necting member to counterbalance the weight of the iron and arm and apply an ironing pressure on the iron when .the. iron is adjacent the material to be ironed, and means cooperating with the connecting member to maintain the ball bearings in proper position.

4. An ironing device according to claim 3, in

- which an adjustment device is provided for the first-named means to adjust the application of the ironing pressure.

5. An ironing device comprising an iron and an arm on which the iron is mounted, an element for supporting said arm, a easing into which the element extends, mechanical means in the casing for counterbalancing the weight of the iron and arm, and electrical means in the casing for. applying an ironing pressure to the iron when it has been moved adjacent the material to be ironed, said mechanical and electrical means operating through the element and arm.

6. An ironing device according to claim 5, in which means are provided to compensate for different thicknesses of material to be ironed whereby the ironing pressure is maintained constant irrespective of the thicknesses of the materials to be ironed.

7. An ironing device according to claim 5, in which electrical means are provided to compensate for different thicknesses of material to be ironed whereby the ironing pressure is maintained constant irrespective of the thicknesses of the-materials to be ironed, said last-named electrical means including a switch which is closed after the compensating means has 01)- era'ted to then energize the first-named electrical means.

8. An ironing device according to claim 5, in which means are provided to compensate for different thicknesses of 'material to be ironed whereby the ironing pressure is maintained constant irrespective. of the thicknesses of the materials to be ironed, said means including anelectromagnet and a switch which is closed after h the compensating means has operated to then energize the first-named electrical means.

9. An ironing device comprising an iron and an arm on which the iron is mounted, and electrical means for counterbalancing the weight of the iron and arm, to apply an ironing pressure on the iron when the iron is adjacent the material to be ironed and to compensate for different thicknesses of material.

10. An ironing device comprising an iron and an arm on which the iron is mounted, means, for mounting the arm so that the iron and arm' may be rotated horizontally and moved verti-f cally, means for counterbalancing the weight of iron is adjacent the material to be ironed, compensating means operated electrically to provide uniform ironiing pressure irrespective of the.

thickness of the material to be ironed,- and means operable by the handle of the iron for closing an; electric circuit to the electrical means. and thecompensating means.

12. An ironing device according to claim 11 in which the electrical and compensating means;

each include a separate electro-magnet.

which a controlling switch is provided in the arm operable by the handle to control the com-- pensating means and the means for applying an ironing pressure.

14. An ironing device comprising an iron, an

arm on which the iron is mounted-so that it will be capable of being moved over an ironing board, a supporting member for the arm having a core secured thereto, two solenoids arranged adjacent each other through both of which the core is adapted to pass, and means for energizing one of said solenoids to counterbalance the iron and arm when the iron is ofi the board and to apply an ironing pressure for the iron by the other solenoid when the iron contacts the material on the board to be ironed.

15. An ironing device according to claim 14, in which the means includes an electric switch which is mounted in the arm adjacent the iron and is operable by a handle on the iron.

16. An ironing device according to claim 14, in which a casing is provided in which the supporting member is slidably mounted and in which the solenoids are also mounted;

17. An ironing device according to claim 14, in which a casing is provided in which the suppo rjting member is slidably mounted by means of be bearings and in which the solenoids are also mounted, and means being also provided tocontrol the movement of the ball bearings to maintain them in proper positions.

18. An ironing device comprising an iron, an arm for mounting said iron so that it is capable ofbeing moved in horizontal directions over an ironing board, means for counterbalancing the weight of the iron and to apply an ironing pressure on the iron when the latter is adjacent the material to be ironed, said means being controlled from the iron, and means for directing a power medium to said second-named means to operate the counterbalancing and ironing pressure means. 19. A mechanical device comprising a casing,

'a member movable relative to said'casing, ball bearings movably mounted between the casing and the member, a keeper for the ball bearings, and means to positively move the keeper on the member in the axial direction when the latter is moved axially relative to the casing which is less than the distance moved 'by the member to maintain the ball bearings in proper positions between the casing and the member.

20. A mechanical device according to claim 19, in which the means includes a collar on the movable member, a lever and a rod whereby the rod has one end connected to the keeper and the 5QQQ:

of the iron and arm, electrical meansjor applying an ironing pressure an the iron when the.

other-end to the lever and the lever being guided inthecollan: 1 v

21,. Amechanical deviceaccording to claim 19, in whichthe means includes a pair of gear racks one on the movable member and one on the easing and a gear between these racks and meshing therewith.

22 Apressing machine comprising a pair of members oneof which is movable and is provided with an ironing element and the other member being stationary, a link pivotally secured to the movable-member, a spring having pivotal connections at the ends thereof one associated with the, link and'the other with one of the members, and means for shifting said link and spring together around one end as a. pivot whereby in the contacting position of the members the spring will exert a pressing force and in the non-pressingand separated position of the members the springwiII-exert a-counterbalancing force, said link havingmeans to effect a uniform floating action of counter balance force throughout the entire movement of the movable member.

23. A pressingmachine according to claim 22, in which the means of the link comprises a short lever one end ,of which is connected to the link the other end connected to the end of the spring associated with the link.

24. A pressing machine comprising a movable member-and a stationary member, the movable member. having a .pivotally mounted arm and an ironing element secured on said arm being movable relative to the other member, a link pivotallyx'connected at one end to the movable member, a spring connected at one end to the link, means at the other end of the link to connect the other end of the spring with the stationary member, and means for shifting the link and spring when the ironing element contacts the stationary member so that the spring will exert a. pressing force and when said movable member is moved relative to the stationary mem ber the spring exerting a counterbalance force by said first-mentioned means to impart a uniform floating action throughout the entire travel of the movable member.

25.A pressing machine comprising a movable member and a stationary member, the movable member having an ironing element thereon being movable relative to the other member, a link pivotally connected at one end to the movable member, a spring connected at one end to the link, a compensating device at the other end of the link in the form of two short levers one of which connects the link with the other end of the spring and the other lever connects the "link with the stationary member, and means for shifting the link and spring when the ironing elementcontacts the stationary member so that the spring will exert a pressing force and when said movable member is moved relative to the stationary member the spring exerts a counter-balancing force which is compensated by the device to impart a uniform floating action throughout the entire travel of the movable member.

26. A pressing device according to claim 25, in which the pair of short levers are integral with each other.

EDWIN E. FOSTER. 

